CRKT M4-02 EDC Folding Pocket Knife: Assisted Opening Everyday Carry, Satin Blade, Thumb Stud, Liner Lock, G10 Bolster, White Bone Handle, Pocket Clip

I've been carrying this knife around for a few months now and absolutely love it. Rugged enough for hunting and fishing (on the ice once so far), classy and elegant enough for... something? Okay, I can't think of where classy and elegant really pertain to functionality, but it really is an nice looking tool... love the burled wood!The blade is razor sharp and very solid when fully extended (especially with the LAWKS locking mechanism engaged). It seems to hold the edge quite well... a quick swipe across a fine ceramic rod restores the edge like new -- I haven't had to sharpen on a stone (and actually remove metal) yet.The size may not be suited for someone looking for a small everyday carry (EDC)/pocket knife to open the occasional envelope or slice through the tape on a box lid, but not so big that you wouldn't want to carry it with you. I find this hides rather nicely in the rear corner of my pocket using the belt clip... hardly notice it's there. The frame appears bulkier than it actually is, but I'm still able to get a good solid grip around the handle for very comfortable and controlled use (my hands aren't huge, but large enough that the grip size makes a difference).The Outburst (assisted opening) mechanism works great for one handed operation. You may have to flip it open a couple times to get used to it and/or break it in, but as soon as you put just enough pressure on the thumb stud and start to move the blade, it instantly snaps open. I found that just a slight adjustment of the pivot screw can make it open easier or require a bit more force if you prefer). There is no safety to keep it from opening accidentally, but at the same time, I don't really think it's possible without intentionally doing so.Just be careful closing the dang thing... if you're not paying attention, you could close the blade onto your thumb and slice through like butter (THANKFULLY, the bone was there to stop it from actually cutting any deeper -- I'm not admitting to anything... just saying, like a scenario that may or may not have ever happened when showing off the new "toy" to a buddy of mine)I've owned other CRKT knives and have always been impressed. In my opinion, CRKT is on par with many Gerbers and Kershaws in terms of quality, but so far, this has been a better knife for me... I've owned all three brands. I've also owned Benchmade (BM), and I wouldn't begin to compare my CRKT M4-02W to that brand (BM is superior to most production knives), except to say I'm every bit as happy to own my CRKT... and if you lose a $250 (plus) BM, I don't think you feel bad replacing it with CRKT (I spent $34 on mine... worth every penny and much more). And if you have a problem with a CRKT, they have no problem replacing it (beat the heck out of one in Iraq, they didn't ask any questions, just gave me a new one).

I've bought the M4-02 (bone/G10) about a month ago and have carried it every day since and I gotta say, I love this knife. Absolutely love it. It looks great, feels great, and functions wonderfully.For comparison, my previous EDC knives have been the Kershaw Leek, Kershaw Dividend, and the SOG Twitch II and while the M4-02 is certainly thicker and heavier than those, it just feels the best. The bone/G10 has a great tactile feel and the weight feels like you got a real knife in your hand.Saw no issues with the fit and finish. No problems disengaging the liner lock (the fatal flaw with my Kershaw Dividend).I had no problem flicking the blade out. In fact, once you get a feel for it, its very easy and satisfying. If anything, the action of the blade flicking out may be a bit aggressive for some.The size is just about perfect for an EDC, even with my over-sized mitts. Fits in the 3rd pocket diagonally just fine, though, like I said, its a bit thicker than what I'm used to. If you want slim, go for the Leek.My one issue with this knife is the thumb stud. The grippy bit is unnecessarily coarse and sticks out rather far. It may not be kind to my jeans in the long run.But that is a minor issue for me. I like this knife so much that I am very tempted add the other variations to my collection. My other EDC knives may not see use for quite some time.EDIT: I loved this knife so much that I got the other two variants, the wood and the antler handle versions. The fit and finish varies dramatically. The wood handled version, the metal lining was not polished flush with the scales in certain places. Not a big deal, but this was not an issue with the bone handle version.The antler version had to be replaced due to the liner lock not locking correctly upon deployment (which was fortunate because I wasn't too happy with the particular scales on the knife, aesthetically speaking). I received a replacement and the blade/lock functioned perfectly and the scales looked better, though I did noticed that the shape of the scales was dramatically different, as far as how the edges were rounded off. The previous version had much more of a beveled/rounded off shape where the new one was much more square. So its a bit of a 'luck of the draw" as to what you will receive.

After a lot of research, I decided to purchase the CRKT M4-02W. This is a second and more refined version of the M4 created by famed knife maker Kit Carson. The model has been in production for years, and has a large following.My research brought me to read many reviews. Most reviews were good, others mentioned issues that caused owners to rate the knife more middle of the road. Of those reviews, some had to do with the fasteners coming loose, something I've encountered in other knives, but nothing a little thread compound (like Loctite) didn't solve. My M4 knife has not had loose fasteners.The majority of the issues reported with the M4 were with the assisted opening (some examples of those comments are listed here on Amazon). I too had an issue with the opening mechanism, but as the manufacturer states, the knife loosens up after initial use, and mine did too. I took it a bit further, by loosening the adjustable assist spring, but now after more use, I may tighten it back up.Overall, this is a very high quality knife, with a thick blade, adjustable pivot and an auxiliary locking system. The walnut finish doesn't perfectly match from one side to another, but I didn't buy it to show and compare left and right sides to my friends. The walnut looks great, had small expansion gaps between scales and the metal frame, making it easy to clean and I assume if the wood swells it won't break against the frame from pressure.This is a wonderfully designed knife, and in my opinion it is well with the money. CRKT offers a lifetime parts replacement guarantee too back it up. Each user buys a knife for a specific reason, mine was the need for a gentlemen's knife for every day carrying.Do your research, and find the type that bests suits your needs.Happy hunting.